What does an electrical installation include?
It includes all fixed electrical equipment that is supplied through your property’s electricity meter. Just like other features of your property, electrical installations deteriorate over time , insulation may become brittle or just wear and tear, so your electrical installation does need to be checked and maintained.
Failure to maintain the electrical installation can lead to prosecution and also invalidates most landlord insurance policies. For the safety of your tenants and your investment, it is important to get regularly electrical safety certification.
Landlords are required by law to ensure:
1. That the electrical installation in a rented property is safe when tenants move in and maintained in a safe condition throughout its duration.
2. That a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) has a periodic inspection carried out on the property every five years.
If your property is not an HMO, you are not legally obliged to do this. However, we recommend that a periodic inspection and test is carried out by a registered electrician on your rental properties at least every five years.
3. That any appliance provided is safe and has at least the CE marking (which is the manufacturer’s claim that it meets all the requirements of European law).
4. To meet these requirements a landlord will need to regularly carry out basic safety checks to ensure that the electrical installation and appliances are safe and working.
Electrical Safety First recommends…
- That a visual inspection of the property is conducted between tenancies
- Making sure that your property has adequate RCD protection
- Using a registered electrician for any work on your property
- Carrying out regular safety checks on the electrical appliances provided as part of the rental agreement
Landlord in Scotland?
Visit our Scottish Landlords page.
